Red Blood, Black Sand: Fighting Alongside John Basilone from Boot Camp to Iwo Jima Hardcover – May 1, 2012

If, after reading Ian Toll's terrific trilogy on the Pacific Theater, and watching 'The Pacific' for the umpteenth time, you decide to buy the trilogy of first-hand accounts by Tatum, Leckie and Sledge, read them in that order. Leave the best till last. That's not to say the first is not worth a read, it is; any such first-hand account is worth a read, no matter if it fits with your personal perception of how a book should be written or not. Tatum's is not written like Leckie's, which in turn is not written like Sledge's, yet they each have their character and worth.Tatum's writing fits perfectly the description of Ambrose Bierce: "May be told by a soldier who is no writer to a reader who is no soldier."

This book was pretty great. I've been reading Pacific WWII memoirs for years, my Uncle served in the Pacific (he was a Seabee) and I'd put this one in the same league as "With the Old Breed" which I thought set the standard for Pacific Marines in WWII.Chuck does a great job of pulling you into the story, it's like you're bought back to 1940s America, and the stories of boot camp and training (which I normally find redundant and often tedious) are instead very entertaining. Chuck shares pranks that will make you wonder how he wasn't killed by one of the old combat veterans in his unit (one actually tries) and you find yourself so engrossed in the characters that you want to flip to the end to see who survives the war because you can't imagine these wonderful men not making it.The book starts to get serious when Chuck is designated to a machine gun squad and he meets his idol John Basilone. John becomes Chuck's sergeant and mentor and when they get separated (John's transferred to another unit) they reunite again, of all places, on the beaches of Iwo Jima where they lead the first breakout from the beach. Chuck's memories of John aren't from hearsay or observation; they're first hand experiences he shares of his time with one of America's greatest heroes.The battle of Iwo isn't described by Chuck in casualty numbers or generalities; it's a second by second play back by a man who must have it permanently inscribed in his memory. I won't say more about Iwo but after reading it I went to bed that night wondering how any human can live through what they did that day. Watching their buddies get cut down, one, by one, by one. You keep expecting it to stop, but it just keeps going.I give thanks to Chuck Tatum for reliving the war and writing this book. He says he's telling the story to honor his buddies and I think this book is an incredible tribute to them. I'm going to buy another copy (mine is kindle) and donate it to our local high school and I found some autographed copies through Valor Studios (a legit looking site I found that sells signed ones) and will get one to pass down to my kids. Men like Chuck Tatum are a dying breed and maybe if America's youth are exposed more to books like this one, rather then video games, I'll have better faith in my country's future.

This book is absolutely fascinating. I have been an avid student and reader of WW2 books through most of my adult life. Many times I have read accounts of the battle fought on Iwo Jima but this is the first time I have read an account by someone who actually experienced it firsthand. Anyone who loves WW2 history, especially in the Pacific, will find this book very interesting. I found it very hard to put down and if time would have allowed I would have read straight through until completion. I have the up most respect for the author and veteran who like my own dad served their country as part of the "greatest generation".

This a great read. It gave an in depth background especially on boot camp and some intricacies on the Marine Corps tradition that I haven't read about in the many other similar books.One minor quibble I have-and it is minor-is that references to John Basilone are pretty sparse considering that John is in the title; however, every mention made is reverent and rightly so. It was difficult to read about John's death but the circumstances just prior makes a person wonder in awe about John's incredible leadership.It's hard for this book to measure up to Eugene Sledge's brutally realistic memoir which I just finished; indeed, that book set the benchmark. But this memoir gives a really in depth personal look at combat on Iwo at least as much as it is possible to describe it. The wonderful relationships between his platoon mates and him is described eloquently and it is so hard to read about some of their combat deaths.I recommend this book highly. It reinforces the magnificent tradition of the Marine Corps and how these men did their duty to the utmost during horrible circumstances. I read a lot of military history because it shows men at their best and their love for the man fighting beside them.

An easy read in the beginning but very intense as the battle for Iwo Jima unfolded through the eyes and experience of the author. A must read for those who study the horrors of the Pacific war placed upon the USMC. Found myself rooting for these men to survive like I knew them personally. Saddened by those who didn’t make it. Great history of the 5th Marine Division as it was assembled and trained. This was service to this country that people didn’t realize was so far over and above what any human should have to go through.

It's a good book about one Marine's tale of the Pacific theater, but the title is pretty misleading because there's not really much about actually "Fighting Alongside John Basilone" - there's just a very few pages' worth of actual interactions with Basilone.I feel that the book could have stood on its own and done credit to the author's own combat experiences, without needing to mislead by namedropping.

Chuck(it seems as though I know him) has given us a piece of history. His story is told with the timelessness of youth in a way that draws the reader into the period and makes it possible to understand the youthful excitement mingled with the fear and dread of what is happening to all of them. The battles were epic and the men involved met those challenges as we would like to think we could. A very excellent book told as only those who were there could possibly do.

i bought the book thinking that I would learn about John Basilone and the author hardly knew him. Despite this I was hooked. They fought a horrific war, it seems to me comparable to sending men over the top of trenches in the worst World War One battles. In the past I questioned whether the use of nuclear weapons against Japan was justified but now I understand more about how they fought and what they were willing to do even when they had lost. I will never forget this book and I am dissapointed in myself for not making more effort to learn of the courage of the men in the Pacific

If you have read With the old breed by E.B Sledge and Helmet for my pillow by Robert Leckie then this is a must ! it completes the trilogy of the story told by the HBO mini series The Pacific .It picks up the baton where the other books have almost finished and takes you through one of the last great battles of the pacific campaign - Iwo jima .Chuck Tatum writes from the heart and leaves no detail out, from when he first enlisted ,to hitting the beach at Iwo jima ,although he covers quite a lot about the hero John Basilone the book is a testament to all the ordinary men who did an extraodinary job - the job of heros,who then returned to the USA and tried to pick up life where they left off .This book tells their story ,by a man who has been there and done that ,and survived - Chuck Tatum ( bronze star)Well written and hard to put down !

I have read other books about the Pacific war but not one that is on such a personal level. Iwo Jima was an awful and horrific ordeal for the Marines and Japanese who took part and this book manages to convey that to the reader, even though I have no experience of such ordeals. If you are into military history then I recommend this book.

A true story of one marine's experience of the gruesome war in the pacific theatre..Chuck went to war as an eager 17 year old and lived to tell the tale..It's hard to imagine how these young men could get through a hell on earth. Books such as this should be compulsory reading for our kids at school to appreciate the price of freedom.

awesome book hard to put down once started. this is truly a great book on the marines who fought in ww2

I was expecting alot from this book, but overall i found it hard going, perhaps poorly written.

Possibly the best combat account I have ever read. If you like personal accounts of war then you will love this one

Fantastic. After seeing Pacific.

Works well after the TV series

I didn't actually finish this book as I couldn't get into it at all. Not a patch on Helmet for my pillow or With the old breed.

I started to read this book and couldn't put it down for anybody wanting to read about the WWII it's a must to read, fantastic read

A first hand account of what these men went though. Harrowing tale well told, I enjoyed it very much. Great

Not quite as interesting as i thought, but still very good

my son bought this book for himself

Excellent